Florida During the Bush Years
In the National Spotlight: Election 2000

Florida remained in the national spotlight throughout Gov. Bush's second term over issues of homeland security, terrorism, and natural disasters. Soon after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it was revealed that several of the hijacking pilots trained in Florida. Then later that fall, one of the three anthrax attacks occurred at the headquarters of the National Enquirer in Boca Raton, Florida. In 2004 and 2005, Florida suffered through two of its worst hurricane seasons in recent memory, including, briefly, Hurricane Katrina, which passed over South Florida before making landfall near New Orleans.

FEMA contractor demonstrating new system to Governor Jeb Bush and Michael Chertoff, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (2006)

President George W. Bush created the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security on September 20, 2001 in response to the 9-11 attacks. President Bush appointed Chertoff as Secretary of the new Cabinet Agency on February 15, 2005 to replace Tom Ridge. Because the department also handled natural disasters, Chertoff became a familiar figure in the state during Florida's very active 2005 hurricane season. Image taken August 6, 2006.

Governor Bush with DEP secretary Colleen Castille (2006)

In 2004, one tropical storm (Bonnie) and four hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne) battered Florida, causing billions of dollars of damage. Florida's Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) led much of Florida's relief and preventive measures. The following year, hurricanes remained a national concern when Hurricane Katrina struck Mississippi and Louisiana., while two more hurricanes (Dennis & Wilma) and a tropical storm (Arlene) swept over Florida.

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